Defiance Politics

A high court in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday sentenced Bosnian-Serb leader Milorad Dodik in absentia to one year in prison and barred him from office for six years for inciting separatism and hindering peace in the fragile Balkan country, Bloomberg reported.

Dodik was convicted on charges that he refused to comply with the recommendations to implement the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement made by the top international envoy overseeing peace in the Balkan country, Christian Schmidt.

Dodik rejected the accusations as politically motivated and said he would disobey any conviction, threatening to implement “radical measures,” including doubling down on his secession efforts for the Republika Srpska, the independent entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina that he governs, the Associated Press reported.

Dodik’s desire to join the Republika Srpska with neighboring Serbia has led to sanctions imposed by the US and the UK.

A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Dodik is also accused of corruption and pro-Russia policies.

His secession threats have elicited concern in the country, still reeling from the 1992-95 war that killed thousands and displaced millions. The US-sponsored Dayton agreement ended the war and created two widely autonomous regions within the country, the Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation.

According to the agreement, high representatives can impose decisions and change laws in the country but Dodik repeatedly called Schmidt’s recommendations illegal with regard to Republika Srpska.

Thousands gathered on Wednesday to support Dodik in the Bosnian-Serb administrative capital of Banja Luka. He told supporters he could deal with tougher situations.

Dodik said the Bosnian-Serb parliament will vote to reject his conviction even as he plans to appeal.

Dodik’s actions are seen as a challenge to the already fragile central government of Bosnia and a threat to the country’s recent European Union membership talks.